Frederick Wolcott Lyman was born June 18, 1849 in Plymouth,
Connecticut to a congregational minister named Rev. Ephraim Lyman and his
wife Hanna Lyman. Frederick was one of five children. He spent the majority of his childhood in
Washington, Connecticut where he also attended the Gunnery School.[1]
At the age of fourteen his family resettled in Northampton, Massachusetts.
As a minister, Frederick’s father earned little pay.[2]
By the time Frederick completed his first year of high school he was forced
to leave his studies and fend for himself. Frederick worked in a general
store but made up for his inability to attend school by teaching himself
algebra, geometry, English and many other subjects in the afternoons, after
the store closed.[3]

In 1871, at the age of twenty-one, Frederick followed his
brother, George, to the west in search of opportunity.[4] He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he established a
business enterprise. While residing in Minneapolis he became heavily
involved with the community. Lyman became treasurer of the Lyman-Eliel Drug
Company, director of the National Bank of Commerce, Northwestern National
bank and the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company.[5]
He also became President of the Business Men’s Association and a member of
the City Charter Committee. He spent some time as deacon, superintendent of
the Sunday school and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Minneapolis,
Minnesota.[6]

On May 9, 1876 Lyman married Elizabeth Huntington Clark.
Together they had three daughters: Katherine Hart Lyman; Jeannie Huntington
Lyman, who died as a child; and Margaret Foster Lyman. They also had
one son named Frederick Clark Lyman. The Lyman family first became
aware of Winter Park in the spring of 1882 when Mrs. Lyman and her mother visited
Maitland.[7]
Loring Augustus Chase brought them to Winter Park. Mrs. Lyman bought a
plot before heading back home, and in the fall of 1883 had a small winter
house
built on the property. The Lyman home was located on the corner of Morse Blvd.
and Interlachen Ave.[8]
Frederick and his family spent winters in Winter Park due to his wife’s
disdain withstand for Minnesota winters.[9]
While in Winter Park, Lyman spent the majority of the time developing the
town. He help found the Congregational Church, becoming a prime contributor and supporter of the church.[10]

When Lyman received word that there were suggestions about
the possible creation of a college in Florida, he, more than anyone
else advocated for Winter Park.[11]
He became deeply interested in the matter and spent much of his time and
money helping found Rollins College. On April 10,1885 he proposed $5,000 to
“The Congregational College” on the condition that it was located in Winter
Park.[12]
At the Congregational meeting that was to
decide the college site, he pushed for the Winter Park bid forward. The bid Lyman
presented was about $114,000 surpassing that of all the other
cities.[13]

With
Lyman’s help, Rollins College was incorporated on April 28, 1885. He soon
became the elected President of Rollins Corporation and Chairman of the
Board of Trustees. He helped plan the construction and furnishing of
the first four buildings on the Rollins College campus. Those buildings
were Knowles Hall, Pinehurst Cottage, a Dining Hall and Lakeside Cottage.
The Freeze of 1886 affected the financial and administrative status of the
college but Lyman persevered and because he had the best interest of the
College in mind, Rollins College pulled through this difficult time.[14]

In 1890 Lyman offered to build a gymnasium for the school.
It was built that summer and named Lyman Gymnasium in his honor.
Lyman continued to work with Rollins College and the Winter Park community
throughout 1899, even as he and his family were forced to move to Arizona and later California
in response to Mrs. Lyman's deteriorating health.[15]
On May 28, 1890 Lyman resigned as President of the Rollins Corporation and
established the position of President of Faculty to take over his position.
He was then elected as a trustee and member of the Executive Committee. In
1905 he permanently retired from business and spent his remaining winters in
Pasadena, California and his summers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He kept
close ties with the College and went on to give Rollins $1,000 to his
original endowment fund, and donated his house and furniture as part of
the endowment.[16]
$200 was allocated each year to keep the house in good condition. The house
was later sold for $4,000 during financially demanding times.[17]

Elizabeth Lyman died in 1913. Lyman continued making an
impact on education by being elected trustee of Pomona College in Clermont,
California in 1914. He served in this position until 1928 and was honorary
trustee until 1931. Lyman died on December 22, 1931 in Pasadena California
at the age of eighty-two.[18]
His extensive contributions to the Winter Park and Rollins College community
have had a tremendous impact. Lyman can rest assure that his efforts have
not been in vain.